Peugeot 208 Allure 1.6 VTi 3dr Car Review - April 2013

The Peugeot 208 Allure 1.6 VTi comes with a 120bhp, 1.6-litre petrol engine producing 118 lb-ft of torque at 4,250rpm, giving it a credible 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 118mph. The engine is quiet and refined, and with minimal road or wind noise too the Peugeot 208 Allure 1.6 VTi is a peaceful place to sit. The steering is far from taxing when driving a lower speeds in the urban environment and is also responsive at higher speeds. The 5-speed manual gearbox can be somewhat sloppy, and there is a hint of roll when cornering while the ride can suffer on less even road surfaces. The high driving position can be frustrating, and won’t suit everyone as the eye line to the instrument panel can be hindered by the steering wheel.

The Peugeot 208, especially in 3-door form, is a stylish and sporty looking car which looks a lot fresher than the popular but ageing 207 which the new model range replaced. The large grille mounted in the front spoiler has evolved from the similar feature on its predecessor, but now looks far more fluent, while the remainder of the car is clean and well proportioned. The Peugeot 208 Allure 1.6 VTi comes as standard with power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, immobiliser, Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity. There are a number of optional extras which new buyers can add to their 208, including metallic paint for an additional £495, rear parking sensors for an extra £270, leather seats at £850, alarm for £210, and satellite navigation at a cost of £400.

The Peugeot 208 Allure 1.6 VTi boasts a good level of cabin space for front seat occupants, with adequate head and leg room. For rear seat passengers, head room is a little more restricted, although not unacceptably so. The 208 scores practicality points for its boot, which has a capacity of 285-litres with the seats up, but comes as standard with split folding rear seats which are not available on the entry level Access and Access+ models. Although Peugeot has had a less than remarkable reliability record in the past, the 208 feels solid inside and out, and added peace of mind comes from a 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty. From a safety viewpoint, the 208 boasts top marks from Euro NCAP, the independent consumer organisation who perform safety test on all new cars offered for sale in Europe, with the car being awarded 5-Stars overall. The 208 has driver, passenger, and front side airbags.

The Peugeot 208 Allure 1.6 VTi 3dr has a price tag of £14,845, a combined fuel economy figure of 48.7mpg, and CO2 emissions of 134g/km which puts the car into Road Tax Band E. The 208 is priced to compete against models in the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, and while its running costs are not class leading they are certainly competitive. The Peugeot should perform well in the resale market, with its good looks and impressive cabin bolstering residual values. The premium feel to its build will help increase its desirability too, but if running costs are a primary factor in your choice of car as opposed to performance, then the 1.2-litre VTi costs only £13,695, with a combined fuel economy of 62.8mpg and falls in the much cheaper Road Tax Band B courtesy of its lower CO2 emissions.